On understanding sectarianism

From a theoretical perspective, the important point is the following, which I copy below for those who do not feel like reading the whole article or are not that interested in such issues:

“To bring the cases of Iraq and Syria into a greater Asian context, it is perhaps better to disaggregate sectarianism from anti-Shi‘ism. In Syria and Iraq, mobilization in terms of regime security and intra-state conflict has coalesced along sectarian lines, rather than sectarian differences serving as the casual factor in creating a sectarian state or militias”. In other words,

“Rather than view sectarianism or the mobilization of politics along sectarian lines in the Middle East as a root cause of conflict, it could be better categorized as a strategy of patronage politics”.

Which is to say: Religion, as any other potentially bonding feature, has been effectively used by power-holders or power-seekers to establish a group identity based on the dicotomy enemy-friend.

EXtreme summary: Politics in its essential nature, religion is accidental.

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§ Una risposta a On understanding sectarianism

I agree, sectarism and dichotomy,the second one especially, are the trick to divide people in opposite sectors, limited by unwrittten statute to seek mediations.
Italian political scenario is an example